Thursday, March 29, 2007

LOGGERS 3-0 ON ANNUAL EASTERN TRIP

If the Knappa Loggers learned anything on their Spring Break trip this year, it's that the Northwest League is mighty tough this year. They already had a pretty good idea.

Taking on a pair of teams expected to contend for state playoff berths from the Blue Mountain Conference, the Loggers chopped out three mercy rule wins that put their league opening doubleheader loss to Nestucca in clearer perspective.

"We expected much tighter games going east than we got," said Knappa head coach Jeff Miller. "The kids know and expect much stiffer competition the rest of the way. Hopefully this gives us the confidence to compete at that level."

On Wednesday, the Loggers used the big inning and the extra base hit to blow past Prairie City/Dayville 12-2 in five frames. Thursday, Knappa destroyed Sherman County, a state quarterfinalist in 2006, winning game one 22-1 in five innings and taking a sixth inning to dispatch the Huskies 14-4 for the doubleheader sweep.

The Loggers put it all together on this trip with strong starting and bullpen pitching, hitting contributions up and down the lineup and a single error in 16 innings of ball.

"It's just what the doctor ordered," said Knappa head coach Jeff Miller. "We needed to build some momentum. It allowed everybody to play a lot and in new positions in some cases. It gave some kids confidence that needed some. Starting league play 0-2 right away, we needed to go away and get healthy and get some momentum. In that case, mission accomplished."

Junior lefthander Gary Aho continued his torrid start to the season that has seen the 3-year starter get at least two hits in each of Knappa's games so far. Aho picked up the win on the mound Wednesday at Prairie City, striking out six batters, while allowing two runs on two hits through three innings and added two hits with a double in three at bats. His battery mate came up large at the plate as Joe Strickland went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and five runs batted in. Strickland's 3-run shot in the first inning gave Knappa a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the trip. Seven of the Loggers' nine hits on Wednesday went for extra bases.

Knappa showed that it doesn't need a wallbanging shot to score, however, as Elias Hunsinger and Dallas Oja executed back-to-back squeeze bunts to plate runs in the Loggers' 8-run second inning.

Game one Friday against Sherman County was close...for two innings at least. The Loggers scored in the first inning, with the Huskies pulling even on a Jorge Guzman home run in the bottom half of the frame. Tied at two going into the third, Knappa put four runs on the board against starting pitcher Nolan Mobley, who fanned six Logger batters in the early innings. The Loggers gashed the Huskies for 17 runs over the next two innings to win going away. Maury Dugan drove in six runs with a double and a home run and pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning with two strikeouts after two innings of scoreless relief the previous day. Karac Anderson doubled twice in three at bats, Oja went 3-for-3 with four runs scored and Aho went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI's.

The Loggers capped the trip with a six-inning win in game two against Sherman. Anderson got the start on the mound and pitched three no-hit innings with six strikeouts for the victory, while helping his cause with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a double and an RBI. Aho launched an opposite field home run over the deep left field fence at Moro, part of a 3-for-4 game at the plate that included a double, four runs and three RBI's.

The game got off to an ugly start as Huskies pitcher Beau Kivett had trouble locating the plate. Anderson led off the game with a single, then came around to score after three consecutive bases on balls. Two hit batters and two more walks later, the Loggers were on their way to another rout. When the dust settled, Knappa drew ten walks and another seven batters reached base after being hit by pitches. The seam bruise total: 12 hit batters for the doubleheader and a headscratching 28 Loggers hit by pitches already this season!

Knappa will break out the Ben Gay this weekend and prepare for a busy week coming out of spring break. The 4-3 Loggers host a league game with 2A Special District 1 newcomer Country Christian of Molalla on Tuesday, follow with a non-league home game against Clatskanie Wednesday, then take on flamethrowing Cody Fassold and the Gaston Greyhounds in a key league doubleheader at Teevin Field on Thursday.

KNAPPA 3-8-0-0-1 12-9-0
PRAIRIE CITY 1-0-1-0-0 2-3-1
WP-Aho (3ip, 2h, 2er, 6k, 3bb)
LP-Bass
2B-J. Strickland, Anderson, Aho, Dugan, C. Strickland, Montgomery. HR-Strickland (1)

Game One
KNAPPA 1-0-4-6-11 22-16-0
SHERMAN 1-0-0-0-0 1-3-3
WP-
West (4ip, 3h, er, 7k, bb)
LP-Mobley
2B-Anderson 2, Aho, Crawford, Dugan, Oja, Mobley. HR-Guzman, Dugan (1)

Game Two
KNAPPA 6-3-1-0-0-4 14-9-1
SHERMAN
0-0-0-1-0-3 4-5-1
WP-
Anderson (3ip, 0h, 0r, 6k, bb)
LP-Kivett
2B-Anderson, Aho. HR-Aho

S.W. WASHINGTON TRACK ROUNDUP

S.W. WA 1A Meet at Kalama...The host Chinooks took first place in both the boys and girls meets Thursday. The Kalama girls recorded 115 points, while Ilwaco placed fourth with 82 points. Ilwaco's Anna Gerke took first place in the 300 hurdles with a time of 1:16.2 and Kelly Freese won the 800 meters in 2:39.2. Ilwaco's boys finished fifth with 36 points as Kalama scored 143. The Fishermen got third place points from Chris Gibson (300 hurdles), Luke Jensen (400 meters), Jeff Nesbitt (high jump) and the 1600 meter relay team. Ilwaco's next meet is the Kent-Meridian Invitational on Saturday.

S.W. WA 1B/2B Meet at Raymond...The Naselle girls took third place in a ten-team meet, finishing with 85 points. Northwest Christian won the meet with 157 points. Erin Saari cleared nine feet in the pole vault to take first place. The Comet senior also took third in the high hurdles and fifth in the high jump. Nichole Laney's 29-4 triple jump was good enough for second place. The South Bend boys took first place with 147 points with Naselle finishing in a tie for fifth with 66 points. Junior Kyle Burkhalter won the 400 meter race in 54.6 seconds, adding a second place with a 5-8 high jump and a fourth place finish in the triple jump. Tyler Northrup took second place in the pole vault (11-0). Naselle and Ilwaco will participate in the Daily Astorian Invitational at Seaside on Monday, April 9.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

WARRIORS FLY SOUTH FOR SPRING BREAK

After a 15-day layoff featuring three cancelled playing dates, you could expect the Warrenton Warriors to be a little bit rusty.

Moving their game with Dayton up a day, the Warriors took no chances with the local weather, heading to the Willamette Valley instead of playing the game at home as scheduled. After a slow start, the Warriors got the muscle memory back and went on to sweep a non-league baseball doubleheader, defeating the Pirates 10-7 in game one and cruising to a 10-0, 5-inning victory in game two.

Warrenton had not played since a season-opening doubleheader sweep over Tillamook back on March 13th.

"We looked like a team that hadn’t played for two and a half weeks," said Warriors head coach Lennie Wolfe. "We were awfully rusty at first. We didn’t execute well defensively or at the plate. In the second half of the game we picked things up and it got much better.

"Offensively, got some really good hitting from the bottom half of the order. Those kids really did a nice job."

Kevin Moore had three hits, while Nathan Massey, Brandon Slaughter and Michael Moore had two hits each.

Dan Wolfe was the winning pitcher in game one, allowing four runs, one earned, on six hits over six innings with eight strikeouts. Wolfe was able to work his way out of a tight spot, leaving the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

The production returned to the top of the order in game two as Wolfe drove in three runs and Buddy Davis scored three times. Massey added two more hits and Gantenbein had a pair of safeties, while recording the complete game, five inning shutout with five strikeouts, two walks and two hits allowed for his second win of the season.

The Warriors, now 4-0, return home to face the Seaside Seagulls in a non-league contest at Huddleston Field on Friday at 2:00 p.m. According to Wolfe, the Warriors will try to reschedule cancelled games against Astoria and Knappa after spring break.

The Warriors softball team was not as fortunate Wednesday, recording just two hits while being swept by Dayton 10-0 and 11-1 in a pair of five inning games. Chelsea Neahring scored Warrenton's only run of the day, crossing the plate on a passed ball in the second inning of game two after reaching on a single. Dayton had nine hits and capitalized on 12 Warrenton errors, while committing four miscues.

Dani Putman got the win in game one, striking out nine batters and pitched the first two innings of game two. Unfortunately, the Pirates may have lost a standout infielder. Laci Lorenzen injured her leg sliding into second base as the Pirates scored their final run of game one and was placed in a soft cast before being helped off the field.

The Lady Warriors (1-4) have an extended layoff before facing Seaside a week from Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Sons Of Norway Field.

In other softball action on Wednesday, the Knappa Loggers lost at Clatskanie 15-1. The Tigers outhit the Logger 14-6. Danielle Donayri went 3-for-3 with a double for Knappa, which hosts Country Christian April 3rd at 4:30 p.m.

NASELLE DROPS BASEBALL NAILBITER

Naselle rapped out 16 hits, but North Beach plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to edge the Comets 11-10 in a Pacific 2B League baseball game at Oyehut.

Missing three pitchers due to disciplinary suspensions and another with a broken arm, the Comets offense nearly carried Naselle to a win.

Marcus Sanchez, Kevin Maki and Kevin Gilbert each had two hits and two runs batted in and Matt Chavez added a double and three RBI's.

The 1-3 Comets head to The Harbors again to take on Ocosta Friday afternoon.

COMETS MAKE CONTACT BUT FALL AT N. BEACH

Playing with just nine girls in uniform, Naselle battled favored North Beach at Oyehut, but came out on the losing end in a 12-4 Pacific 2B League loss.

The Hyaks blew the game open with a six-run third inning; three of the runs were unearned. Jackie Anderson pitched four innings in the loss. Colette Beaulaurier allowed one run over the final two innings in the circle.

Four errors were costly for Naselle as North Beach plated three unearned runs in the first inning to take the early lead. The Comets responded with two runs in the top of the second. Ashley Ahlstrom singled, stole second base and scored on a Beaulaurier base hit. Beaulaurier later scored on a passed ball. Brandi Keightley stole home in the third inning for Naselle's third run after reaching on a single. Sunny Trent plated Oriane Condon with Naselle's final run in the sixth inning.

North Beach pitcher Amanda Erickson picked up the win, allowing four hits and six bases on balls with four strikeouts. Erickson helped her cause with a couple of diving stops on the infield, one with the bases loaded to end the third inning.

"We battled real well," said Naselle head coach Chris Clark. "We had nine girls tonight. We hit [Erickson] all right."

Naselle travels to Westport to take on Ocosta in a Pacific 2B League game on Friday at 4:00 p.m.

Monday, March 26, 2007

SHORTHANDED COMETS DROP FIRST GAME

With their 14-player roster reduced to ten, the Naselle Comets were no match for the visiting Taholah Chitwhins in a 9-4 non-league softball loss at Naselle Monday.

Sunny Trent, who batted .683 for the Comets in 2006, missed the game with a migraine. Two other Comet players will be out a minimum of two weeks for disciplinary reasons as Naselle struggles to keep the required nine players eligible to play.

"We're a bad grade or an illness away from forfeiting games," said fourth year head coach Chris Clark.

Still, the Comets had their chances against the young Chitwhins, who start four freshmen and two eighth graders. It was one of the veteran Taholah players, senior catcher Allison Kartz, that caused coach Clark to develop an Excedrin headache of his own.

"She plays senior legion baseball in the summer with Lake Quinault and Taholah's boys," said Clark. "She catches for them. We actually got three walks in the first inning, but she threw them all out. She has a cannon for an arm. She's pretty fun to watch."

Kartz picked off two baserunners, then threw out a third on a strikeout passed ball as Naselle missed a golden opportunity to get the game's first score.

The Chitwhins scored seven unanswered runs in the middle innings, before Naselle responded with a 3-spot in the fifth, adding a single run in the sixth inning before Taholah tacked on two insurance runs in its final at bat in the seventh.

Kellyn Pakenen and Arielle Condon each reached base three times on a hit and a pair of walks. Pakenen scored two runs for Naselle, which hosts Pacific 2B League favorite North Beach on Wednesday before travelling to Ocosta on Friday.

This year's league combines 2B teams Naselle, Ocosta, North Beach, N.W. Christian and Tacoma Baptist with three 1B squads: Taholah, Lake Quinault and Oakville. The 1B-2B matchups will not count in the league standings, but could potentially be used as tiebreakers for district seeding. All three 1B teams will advance to the state tournament due to the absence of any 1B schools on the east side of the district.

Naselle dropped to 2-1 on the season with the loss. The Comets baseball team was forced to forfeit its game against Taholah due to a shortage of players.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

BOBCATS SWEEP LOGGERS IN NWL OPENER

The Knappa Loggers got an early start to league play in the new 2A Special District 1 and got a taste of the rugged competition they are likely to face for the remainder of the season.

The Nestucca Bobcats picked up a doubleheader sweep, winning a game one pitcher's duel 4-1 and taking game two by a score of 11-3

Nestucca's Logan Kellow, a senior righthander, tossed a complete game with 18 strikeouts in game one, then hit one of three Nestucca home runs in the second game.

After strong pitching performances from Gary Aho and Karac Anderson in game one, things got off to a bad start for Knappa in game two when junior lefthander Nate West walked the first four batters of the game, giving way to Anderson without recording an out.

"He threw about 16 straight pitches to the same spot," said Knappa head coach Jeff Miller. "About two inches above the knees. He didn't adjust to the strike zone."

Anderson came on for his second relief stint of the day, after tossing two innings of no-hit relief in game one. He struck out the first two batters, but three straight errors allowed three more runs to score.

Charlie Sutton picked up the win on the mound in game two for the Bobcats, and launched a 2-run home run off Anderson in the third inning. Ryan Waldron belted a 3-run shot and Kellow added a solo blast in the fifth inning off freshman pitcher Cody Strickland. The Bobcats used ten bases on balls to their advantage in game two.

Game one was a tight contest, with Knappa striking first in the top of the third inning when Gary Aho doubled and scored on a Joe Strickland RBI single. Nestucca responded, tying the game in the bottom of the inning on a pair of walks and a sacrifice fly.

Knappa had seven errors in the two games of the doubleheader and unfortunately they came in bunches. A misplayed ball in right field with one out in the fourth started a 3-run Nestucca rally, as two more errors in the frame helped the Bobcats grab a 4-1 lead.

The Loggers put runners on second and third in their final at bat, but Joe Strickland hit a shot to deep right field that landed two feet foul, then became Kellow's 18th and final strikeout victim to end the game.

"He's a smart, athletic, experienced kid," said Miller of Nestucca's ace pitcher. "The kind you'd like to have out there. He seemed to get better as the game went along. His fastball is not completely overpowering, but he locates it well."

The young Loggers have some pop in the first four spots of the order, but are low on experience the lower you go.

"We are baseball infants," said Miller. "These guys have never played and it's going to take some time."

Knappa will rely heavily on Aho, a 3-year starter who pitched well, striking out eight batters over a four inning stint. The junior lefty continues to hit the ball well, with five hits and two doubles on the day. Aho is 9-for-14 at the plate with four doubles to start the season.

"He is our unquestioned leader," said Miller. "Every hit seems to be a carbon copy: line drive."

Knappa's scheduled game with Warrenton today has been moved to Warrenton High School's Huddleston Field and will start at 4:30 p.m. weather permitting. The Warriors have been off for more than a week after beginning the season with a blowout win over Tillamook. Warrenton was ranked number one in the first 3A coaches' poll of the season, while Knappa was the 11th-ranked team in the 2A poll.
Game One
KNAPPA 0-0-1-0-0-0-0 1-5-3
NESTUCCA 0-0-1-3-0-0-X 4-3-0
WP-Kellow (7ip, 5h, 1er, 18k, 3bb, hp)
LP-Aho (4ip, 3h, er, 8k, 3bb)
Game Two
KNAPPA
0-0-2-0-1-0-0 3-6-4
NESTUCCA 4-3-3-0-1-X 11-7-2
WP-Sutton (5ip, 6h, 3er, 9k, 4bb, hp)
LP-West (0ip, 4bb, 4r, er)

BOMBS AWAY IN CLATSKANIE AS FISH WIN FIRST

Astoria shook off a season-opening 3-game losing streak by battering the pitching-thin Tigers at Clatskanie, winning 17-0 in a game called after five innings

Matthias Brause, the defending 3A State Player of the Year, tossed a 5-inning no-hitter with ten strikeouts, allowing just three baserunners on a walk, a hit batter and an error.

The Fishermen blew the game open in the fifth inning, with senior Nick Bredleau and junior Jared Rummell each collecting their first varsity home runs in the frame. Joey Dursse had four hits and a pair of RBI's and Thomas Jawarski had three hits, two RBI's and three runs scored for the Fishermen, who scored in every inning.

"Clatskanie had played two games and were down a little bit pitching-wise," said Astoria head coach Dave Gasser. "They wanted to play and I was glad they hosted us. It was nice to get something within 150 miles of home. That's as close to a home game as we're probably going to get in the preseason."

Astoria's previous losses came at Gladstone and Newport, two teams that expect to contend with Astoria at the state tournament. Their only scheduled home date in the preseason was cancelled due to poor field conditions.

Unfortunately, Astoria's home Aiken Field took a beating in the offseason due to overuse and misuse and is unplayable for the near future. However the Fishermen were able to practice on it the previous day and had spent some quality time outdoors at Evergreen Field (Astoria Middle School) leading up to the game. Coach Gasser believes the outdoor practices led to a stronger showing on the field Thursday.

"We had a modified scrimmage at Tapiola [Ernie Aiken Field]," said Gasser. "We got four days of working outside and made the most of it. We kind of turned a corner. It always takes awhile. You've got to be able to switch sports and get acclimated."

While Astoria has hit the ball well throughout the lineup through four games, the Fishermen took their lumps early on trying to develop their pitching depth behind the senior ace Brause. Astoria allowed ten runs to Gladstone and 21 runs in a pair of losses at Newport, a team Astoria beat in last year's state semifinals, which returns a number of quality players.

"At Newport, we swung the bat well," said Gasser. "We were up 9-3 and 6-0 because we were smacking the ball around the park. We're trying to develop a pitching staff and we have people on limited pitches, so it's gonna take awhile.

"This was Matt's third time out and he's starting to look like Matt Brause."

Astoria has a week off before taking on the Burns Hilanders at the Les Schwab Baseball Classic in John Day next Thursday. The Fishermen play three games in three days at the tournament, hosted by Grant Union High School.

HILLARD FANS 18 IN WET WIN

If Astoria can consistently produce runs this year, the Lady Fishermen may be able to make some noise in the Cowapa League.

Junior pitcher Alex Hillard outdueled Clatskanie's Courtney Sherman in a fanfest, whiffing 18 Clatskanie batters as the Lady Fishermen won their third straight game, defeating the Tigers 8-4 Thursday at a cold, wet Niemi Field.

"Alex threw another great ballgame," said Astoria head coach Dave Kellmer. "I think she had three walks, which we are still trying to keep those down, but when you have strikeouts, you're able to work your way out of trouble."

Hillard took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, before surrendering a 2-run double, one of only two Clatskanie hits on the day. Fortunately, the 5-7 fireballer had plenty of run support behind her.

The Fishermen plated four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 6-0 lead. Freshman Shelby Coggins led off the inning with a single and scored on Miranda Abrahams' base hit. A two-run double by senior Emily Burrell scored Bug Coggins and Kelly Roman.

Roman scored a run in the third inning thanks to a pair of Clatskanie errors and Hillard's bases loaded walk in the second inning forced in Sam Koskela, who led off the inning with a walk and advanced on back-to-back bunt singles by Burrell and Jessica Curry.

The Lady Fishermen tacked on two insurance runs in the fifth inning, when Amy Chaloux led off with a single, Abrahams walked and both players scored on a Bug Coggins base hit.

"We keep moving people around in the lineup," said Kellmer, "looking for kids that want to get up there in a clutch situation and hit. Emily Burrell, Bug and Miranda had a couple of clutch hits. It's exciting to see."

Sherman fanned 11 batters in a complete game loss for Clatskanie, allowing seven hits and five bases on balls.

Burrell had two hits on the day for the 3-1 Fishermen, who hit the road for spring break with games at Linfield University in McMinnville against La Salle on Thursdsay and at Sisters against the host Outlaws and the Central Panthers with doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.

CLATSKANIE 0-0-0-0-2-0-2 4-2-3
ASTORIA 0-1-1-4-2-0-X 8-7-3
W-Hillard (7ip, 2h, 4r, 2er, 18k, 3bb)
L-Sherman (6ip, 7h, 11k, 5bb)

SOFTBALL ROUNDUP

Nestucca 11-13, Knappa 1-0 (both 5 innings)...The host Bobcats made quick work of the Lady Loggers in the Northwest League opener for both teams. Nestucca outhit Knappa 26-6 over the two games of the doubleheader. Knappa's Taryn Hirahara went 2-for-4 with two doubles and scored Knappa's only run of the day. The Lady Loggers (0-2 Special District 1, 1-3 overall) host Neah-Kah-Nie today at 4:00 p.m.
Naselle 15, N.W. Christian 10...Jackie Anderson picked up the win for Naselle with three and a third innings of relief as the Comets defeated the Navigators in a Pacific 2B League game in Lacey.
Warrenton at Ilwaco...Thursday's game was halted by rain after three innings with Warrenton leading Ilwaco 6-0. Audrey Dove doubled for the Warriors and Ilwaco pitcher Courtney Gilgore struck out seven batters and allowed two hits. The Lady Warriors host Naselle for a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.

TRACK AND FIELD ROUNDUP

at Peterson Field in Ilwaco...competing against three other schools, Knappa senior Rachele Schuyler took first place in the javelin with a throw of 103-6 and Gretchen George won three events, taking first place in the 400 (1:07.11), 800 (2:41.28) and 300 hurdles (53.29). Steven Bokor finished second behind Ilwaco's Matt Kaino in the 400 meters with a time of 54.18, taking third in the 200 and 100 meters. Team scores and Ilwaco individual results were not reported. Knappa's next meet is at Warrenton on April 5. Warrenton was scheduled to participate in the Catlin Gabel Icebreaker meet on Thursday. No results were reported.

at Pentilla Field in Naselle...The Comet girls placed third and boys second at a six-team home meet Thursday. Erin Saari took first place in the high jump (4-8) and teamed with Kelsey Fletcher, Emily Green and Sylvia Herrold on Naselle's first place 4-by-400 meter relay team. Saari also added second place finishes in the high hurdles and pole vault. Jenny Klinger won the 3200 meter race (13:53) and Nichole Laney took first place in the triple jump (28-9.25). N.W. Christian's girls edged Willapa Valley by one points in the team standings and the Navigator boys made it a sweep with 144 points, 14 ahead of second place Naselle. The Comets' Kyle Burkhalter won the high jump (5-8), took second in the triple jump and 400 meters and was part of a winning 4-by-100 meter relay team. Jeremy Ray took first place in the javelin (135-2) and Tyler Northrup won the pole vault (11-0). Naselle's next competition is at Raymond next Thursday.
GIRLS: NWC 125, Valley 124, Naselle 108, Wishkah 78, Raymond 58, Pe Ell 12
BOYS: NWC 144, Naselle 130, Wishkah 63, Valley 63, Pe Ell 60, Raymond 30

GULLS WIN FISH INVITATIONAL

Using what Astoria coach Dan Foss called the "Even More Modified Stableford scoring system", the Astoria boys golf team hosted a six-team invitational tournament at the Astoria Golf and Country Club Thursday

Seaside won the event, in which scoring golfers were awarded two points for a bogey, three points for par and five points for every birdie in an attempt to accumulate the highest team score.

The Gulls' Devan Flukinger carded an eagle on the ninth hole, good for eight points, on the way to a medal-winning individual score of 48. Astoria's Alex Ferber, playing in the same group as Flukinger, finished with a second place 44.

Astoria placed fifth out of six teams with 119 points.

"The boys weren't overly pleased with the team results," said Foss, "but this is something to give us a barometer early in the season."

Six golfers participated from each school and top the four scores were used to tabulate the team total. Seaside pulled away on the back nine to finish 13 points ahead of second-place Scappoose with 153 points.

"Devan Flukinger put together a complete round today," said Seaside coach Jim Poetsch. "He only had two holes where he didn’t score points.

"Of course, his eagle from somewhere near the putting green on the ninth hole had to have been the shot of the day. It was a great example of why you never give up on a hole in golf. He was way off the fairway and looking at a possible big number and came away with an eagle with one good shot."

Matt Peinhardt finished tied for fourth with 39 points. Chris Olson tied for sixth with 37 points and Evan Jiroudek added 29 points to complete the scoring for the Gulls.

For Astoria, Craig Folgner scored 30 points, Thomas Barbec finished with 27 and John Natividad tallied 18 points.

"Thomas Barbec showed great poise today and did very well at Tillmook last week," commented Foss. "And Folgner rebounded from a poor front nine to score 21 points on the back, one of the better nine hole scores today."

Astoria's first Cowapa League dual match is Tuesday, April 3 at home against Tillamook. The Gulls head to Tillamook's Alderbrook Golf Course Friday to face the Cheesemakers.

Fish Invitational at Astoria Golf & Country Club
TEAM SCORES: Seaside 153, Scappoose 140, Tillamook 135, North Salem 134, Astoria 119, Banks 114
TOP INDIVIDUALS: Devan Flukinger (SEASIDE) 48, Alex Ferber (ASTORIA) 44, Joe Ziagas (N. SALEM) 41

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

LADY FISHERMEN WALK PAST WARRIORS

Taking advantage of some early wildness from Warrenton starting pitcher Chelsea Neahring, the Astoria Lady Fishermen plated eight runs in the first two innings on the way to a 10-3 non-league softball victory over Warrenton at Niemi Field Wednesday afternoon.

The first five Fishermen batters walked to first base in the game as Astoria took a 4-0 lead courtesy of three bases loaded walks and an error. Three walks and RBI doubles by Elizabeth "Bug" Coggins and Jordan Thoreson plated four more runs in the second inning.

Astoria pitcher Alex Hillard fanned 13 Warrenton batters and allowed four hits with just three bases on balls in a complete game performance. Hillard struck out at least one batter in every inning and did not allow a ball to leave the infield until Brooklyn Campbell's RBI single in the sixth inning.

"She's throwing well," said Astoria head coach Dave Kellmer. "She struggled a little bit throwing strikes today. She had two walks the first two games and we were really happy with that. She struggled a little bit today, but I think the weather had something to do with that. It's hard to pitch when it's this cold."

While the mercury showed a temperature just below 50 degrees during the game, the cold wind off Young's Bay had players and fans (and media) bundled up in heavy coats and blankets to ward off the chill.

As usual, the Warriors players were clad in shorts, although the weather may have had less to do with Neahring's struggles than attempts to be too fine.

"She needs to be able to trust the players behind her," said Warrenton's first-year head coach Dionne Neahring, Chelsea's sister.

Neahring was working with a freshman battery mate in Campbell and the Warriors were playing without regular second baseman Audrey Dove, the only senior on the roster. Only one other player on the field had varsity experience coming into this season.

Neahring and leadoff batter Ashley Poole each reached on bunt singles and scored runs for the Warriors, who dropped to 1-2 with the loss.

Coggins, Miranda Abrahams and Jessica Curry each scored twice for Astoria, which improved to 2-1 with the victory. Abrahams, a sophomore catcher and leadoff batter, reached base three times on two walks and a single and plated a run with a sacrifice fly.

The Fishermen host the Clatskanie Tigers at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, while Warrenton travels to Ilwaco for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader.

Knappa was scheduled to play at Clatskanie Wednesday, but the game was cancelled. The Lady Loggers travel to Cloverdale to open Northwest League play against the Nestucca Bobcats Thursday.

ASTORIA 4-4-0-0-2-0-0 10-4-3
WARRENTON 1-0-0-0-0-2-0 3-4-3
W-Hillard (7ip, 4h, 3r, 2er, 13k, 2bb, 2wp)
L-Neahring (7ip, 4h, 10r, 7er, 8k, 12bb, 3wp)
E-Thoreson 2, S. Coggins, Bussert, Campbell, Fosdick. LOB-Astoria 8, Warrenton 5. 2B-Coggins, Thoreson. SB-Abrahams, Burrell, Fosdick 2, Poole, Holthusen. DP-Astoria 2. PB-Campbell 4.